Ignition device for gas burners



March 2, 1954 J. E. CHAMBERS IGNITION DEVICE FOR GAS BURNERS Filed Jan. 25, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l March 2, 1954 J, E. CHAMBERS ,670,7 1

IGNITION DEVICE FOR GAS BURNERS Filed Jan. 25, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 1954 J. E. CHAMBERS 7 2,670,791

IGNITION DEVICE FOR GAS BURNERS Filed Jan. 25, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 2, 1954 I IGNITION DEVICE FOR GAS BURNERS John E. Chambers, Shelbyville, Ind., assignor to Chambers Corporation, a corporation of Indiana Application January 25, 1949, Serial No. 72,659

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an ignition device for the burners of a gas cooking stove, and has particular reference to manual means for operating an electric ignition device to produce a spark or other means of ignition adjacent the gas burner when the gas is turned on.

It has long been known that gas pilot burners that are intended to burn continuously are dangerous because of the possibility of being extinguished by a sudden gust of wind, reduced gas pressure, or a temporary stoppage of the gas supply. In addition, the heat emitted by a continuously burning pilot burner is sometimes objectionable and the useless waste of gas is always a disadvantage.

For the reasons above noted, many attempts have been made to provide electrical ignition means for lighting gas burners at the desired time of use. Heretofore, the electrical ignition means have been of the fully automatic type, and codes governing the manufacture of gas stoves require that such devices be provided with safeguards to insure their safe operation. The result has been to mak the fully automatic electrical ignition devices too expensive for general use.

In order to overcome the objections of the continuously burning gas pilot burner and the fully automatic electrical ignition devices, I have designed a manually operated electrical ignition device that does not require any expensive safeguards and yet is completely safe because the gas cannot be turned on without actuating th ignition device. In accordance with the present invention, an electrical igniter is positioned close enough to the gas burner to ignite the gas when the gas is turned on and the igniter is energized. A lever that is used to close the electrical circuit to energize the igniter is so constructed and interconnected to the gas control valve that it must be operated in order to turn the gas valve. After the gas is ignited, a release of pressure on the ignition lever opens the circuit and the igniter ceases to function.

Although it is necessary generally to have a separate igniter for each burner, the igniters on a single gas stove can all be energized through a single transformer. The spark gap, which is the preferred igniter in accordance with the present invention and is described in the following specification, is energized by electricity passing through a high frequency transformer which steps up the voltage sufficiently to develop the spark across the gap. It will be understood that any other means of ignition may be used. For

example, the voltage may be decreased, instead of increased, and a resistance coil may be substituted for the gap.

The structure by which the advantages of my invention are attained will be described in the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary perspective view of a gas cooking stove showing the gas valve handle and the ignition lever;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1, showing the gas distribution system leading to the gas burner and the electrical circuit for forming a spark adjacent the gas burner;

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the gas and electrical systems for feeding gas to the burner and forming a spark adjacent the burner;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the handle for operating the gas valve and the lever for operating the electric circuit;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the lever for operating the electrical circuit and the associated switch mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view showing the gas operating handle and the ignition lever with the electrical switch open; and

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary cross sectional view, similar to Fig. 6, showing the gas valve and the switch in open position in solid lines, and the switch in closed position in dotted lines.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates a gas cooking stove having a plurality of burners 3. A gas pipe 4 positioned just inside the stove adjacent the front wall of the stove has a separate valve 6 to supply gas to each burner. Each valve is provided with a valve stem sleeve 1 for operating the valve. This sleeve is controlled by a handle 8 which projects in front of the front wall of the stove, by shaft H3 which is mechanically interconnected to the sleeve. A disk 9 is rigidly mounted on shaft l0 and rotates with the shaft and handle. The disk has a peripheral notch H the sides I l of which abut the sides [2 of a housing 43 which projects inwardly from the front wall of the stove. Accordingly, it is impossible to open the gas control valve unless the housing is moved out of engagement with the notch.

The bottom wall [4 of housing l3 rests on the edge of disk 9 and is held there by means of a compression spring [5 which is confined between the top wall l6 of the housing and the top wall ll of a transverse supporting member positioned parallel to and just inside of the front wall of at one end by a portion 21 of bottom wall I '3 which projects through front wall just below aperture 20. Lever l9 has a thumb portion 22 which projects through an opening 29' in the front wall of the stove and which can be depressed to raise the inner end of the lever. When thumb portion 22 is depressed, housing i3 is raised with the inner end of the lever against the action of spring I5. Apertures 28 "and =23 permit lever 19 to be depressed sufficiently to enable housing I3 to be moved out of engagement with notch H and thus permit rotation of disk-,9-.

A fiat strip 23 rigidly secured at one end to the bottom of bottomwall I4 of housing l3 project .outwardly'fromthe housing. and interiorly ofithe-stove. Strip 23 has a pin 25 secured adjacent its outer end. The pin extends laterally from extension 23 andnormally lies under the blade 25. of an electrical switch 26 forming part of a primary circuit. which is closed when blade 25:.contacts a contact; point 2? projecting from the:bottom of the-switch. The primary circuit alsofincludes a wire 28:1eading from switch 25 to a.transformer 29 and another wire 36 leading from the switch to an electrical outlet connected to-a source of. electricity having, say, 110 volts. Aathirdwire 3| leads from-the electrical outlet to the transformer. A secondary circuit, leading-from transformer 29, comprises wires havingterminals 32 and 33 spaced a short distance apart to form a spark gap. The transformer is a-high voltagetransformer, and when the pri mary circuit is energized the potential in the secondary circuit is sufficient to draw a spark across: the gap and thereby ignite the adjacent gas. burner.

As-indicated-inFig. 2, the gas burner is shown as being positioned in the'bottom of a heating :well 34. However, the exact position of the gas burner is unimportant, and the ignition means may be used with the top gas burners or with gas burners located in an oven forming part of the stove.

The operationof the device is very simple. When the gas is inits off position handle 8 can notrbe-rotated because of the engagement of notch H; with housing 53. The user grasps handle..8 in the hand and places the thumb on top ofthumb piece 22. Clockwise rotational force to turn the-handle to open position is applied simultaneously with downward pressure on the thumb piece. When the downwardly exerted pressure depresses thumb piece-22 sufiicient to raise housing-13v clear of notch H the rotational force moves. the handle to cause gas to flow to the burner. However, the downward pressure does not stopv at the point where housing 13 clears notch II, and a very slight continuation of the downward pressure causes pin 24 to continue its upward movement until blade 25. engages contact point 21 and thus closes the electricalcircuit so. thata sparkis automatically, producedacross the. gapadjacent. the burner.

As soonas. thegas. fromburner 3. isignitedthe pressure .onthmnb piece. -.2 Lof. lever L9 is; released 4 and the switch is open so that the spark gap ceases to function. The notch H is no longer aligned with housing I 3 and bottom wall I l of the housing then rests on the circumference of disk 9. Handle 8 may be rotated freely to regulate the flow of gas to the burner. When the handle is rotated to its oil position notch H is again aligned with housing l3 and spring I5-presses the housing into the notch so'that the. gas can not be turned on again Without again energizing the secondary circuit to ignite the gas.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have devised a safe electrical ignition system for gas burners beoause'the structure controlling the gas valve and the igniter are mechanically interconnected.

Although I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention in considerable detail, it will be understood that the description thereof is intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many details may be modifiedor changed withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope ofthe invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be re-- strictedto the exact structure described.

I claim:

1. In an ignition mechanism for gas burners,

an lectrical circuit including a spark gap adjaoent the burner and. aswitch for energizing the circuit. to cause a spark to jump across said gap, a rotatable valve for controllingtheflow of gas to said burner, a disk rigidly secured to said valve. and rotatable therewith, a notch in the edge of said disk, a manually operable. lever engaging the circumference of said disk, said lever regis tering with said notch when said valve is in closed position, a spring urging said lever into. said notch when they are aligned, to hold said valvein closed position, and a pin projecting from said lever, said pin engaging said switch. to close it after said lever is moved out. of said notch and beyond the periphery of said disk.

2. In a gas cooking stove, a gas burner, a spark gap adjacent said burner, said spark gap being controlled by a circuit capable of generating a spark capable of jumping across said gap when said circuit is energized, a manually rotatable valve for controlling the flow of gas to said burner, means for normally holding said valve in closed position, and interconnected meansfor energizing said circuit after said holding means is released and moved slightly beyond the. point of release of said holding meansto permit movement of said valve from its closed position, for igniting gas from said burner substantially as soon as said gas flows to said burner.

3. In agas cooking stove, a gas burner, a spark gap adjacent said burner, said spark gap being controlled by a circuit operable to generate a spark capable of jumping across said gap when said circuit is energized, a rotatable valve for controlling, the. flow of gas to said burner, a.

handle for rotating said valve, a thumb operated lever. adjacent. said handle, and a disk rotatable with said valve, .a notch. in said disk,. said lever engaging said notch when said valve is closed to. prevent movement of said valve from closed position, said thumb lever and said handle being substantially simultaneously operable by pressing down with the thumb and turning the handle in one continuous movement, said thumb lever being operatively connected to said circuit to energize said circuit. upon its release from.

engagement with saiddiskto provide a sparked;

ia ent theb rner when. s. flows. through said burner.,

4. In a gas cooking stove, a gas burner, a rotatable valve for controlling the flow of gas to said burner, a handle for rotating said valve, a disk rigidly mounted on said valve, a notch in said disk, a front wall constituting part of the stove structure, said front wall having an aperture therethrough, a lever passing through said aperture and pivoted on the portion of the front wall forming the bottom edge of the aperture, said lever having a thumb piece at its outer end positioned in front of said front wall, a spring urging the inner end of said lever into engagement with said notch, said engagement normally preventing rotation of said valve from closed position, said lever being pivotally movable from said engagement by pressure exerted downwardly against the thumb piece of said lever, an electrical circuit operable when energized to ignite gas from said burner, said circuit including a switch normally open and adapted to energize said circuit when closed, and means projecting from the inner end of said lever operable to close said switch when the thumb piece of said lever is pressed downwardly, said downward movement of the thumb piece being effective to disengage the inner end of said lever from said notch, whereby said handle may be turned to rotate said gas control valve from closed position.

5. In an ignition mechanism for gas burners, an electrical circuit including an igniter adjacent the burner and a switch for energizing the circuit, a manually rotatable valve for controlling the flow of gas to said burner and means operatively engageable with said switch and normally holding said valve in closed position, said means being manually operable to release said valve for opening movement and to close said switch.

6. In an ignition mechanism for gas burners, an electrical circuit including an igniter adjacent the burner and a switch for energizing the circuit, a valve for controlling the flow of gas to said burner, a disk rigidly secured to said valve and movable therewith, a notch in said disk, and a manually operable lever engageable with said notch to hold said valve in closed position, said lever being operable to close said switch upon movement of said lever out of said notch and slightly beyond its notch engaging position.

7. In a gas cooking stove, a gas burner, a rotatable valve for controlling the flow of gas to said burner, a handle for rotating said valve, a thumb operated lever adjacent said handle, a notched disk mounted on said valve, said lever engaging the notch in said disk when said valve is closed to prevent movement of said valve from closed position, a switch mounted on said stove,

said switch controlling an electrical circuit capable of igniting gas from said burner when energized, said lever and said handle being operable substantially simultaneously with a single hand motion, said lever being pressed downwardly to release it from said notch and to close said switch while said handle is being rotated to open said valve.

8. In a gas cooking stove, a gas burner, a rotatable valve for controlling the flow of gas to said burner, a handle for rotating said valve, a thumb operated lever adjacent said handle, a notched disk mounted on said valve, said lever engaging the notch in said disk when said valve is closed to prevent movement of said valve from closed position, a switch mounted on said stove, said switch controlling an electrical circuit capable of igniting gas from said burner when energized, said lever and said handle being operable substantially simultaneously with a. single hand motion, said lever being pressed downwardly to release it from said notch and to close said switch while said handle is being rotated to open said valve, release of said lever after said single hand motion causing said lever to drop into contact with the circumference of said disk, thereby opening said switch while permitting continued rotation of said handle.

9. In an ignition mechanism for gas burners, an electrical circuit including a spark gap adjacent the burner and a switch for energizing the circuit, a valve for controlling the flow of gas to said burn-er, a disk rigidly secured to said Valve and movable therewith, said disk having a notch in its periphery, and a manually operable lever engageable with said notch when said valve is in its closed position to hold said valve against movement from its closed position, said lever closing said switch upon movement from its notch engaging position to a position slightly beyond the periphery of said disk.

10. In a gas cooking stove, a gas burner, a rotatable valve for controlling the flow of gas to said burner, a disk rigidly secured to said valve and rotatable therewith, said disk having a notch in its periphery, a manually operable lever engaging the notch of said disk when said valve is closed to prevent rotation thereof and thereby hold said valve against rotation from its closed position, an electrical circuit including a spark gap adjacent said burner and operable to ignite gas from said burner when said circuit is energized, a switch adjacent said manually operable lever, and a pin projecting from said lever, said pin being operable to close said switch to energize said circuit after said lever is moved slightly more than the distance out of said notch.

11. In a gas cooking stove, a gas burner, a transformer, a secondary circuit leading from the transformer and having a spark gap therein adjacent said burner, a primary circuit leading from a source of current, a switch in said primary circuit, the potential in the secondary circuit being suiiicient to draw a spark across the gap and to ignite gas from said burner, a rotatable valve for controlling flow of gas to said burner, a disk rigidly secured to said valve and rotatable therewith, said disk having a notch in its periphery, and a lever engaging said notch when said valve is closed to hold said disk against rotation and thereby hold said valve against movement from its closed position, said lever including means to close said switch, thereby energizing said primary circuit upon movement of said lever out of said notch and slightly beyond the periphery of said disk.

JOHN E. CHAMBERS.

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